CAUTION OVER CANNABIS CALL

Outspoken South Devon coroner Hamish Turner has issued his strongest warning
yet about the legalisation of cannabis after dealing with three heroin
inquests in as many days.

Mr Turner says any moves to decriminalise cannabis will be a "retrograde
step." He revealed the trio of tragedies dealt with this week involved men
who had started their drugs careers on cannabis.

"It's all very well talking about the legalisation of cannabis, but these
cases reveal what happens to those who get involved in drugs. Two of them
started on cannabis when they were 13 and the other when he was 15. They all
died in their 20s."

His note of caution to law-makers followed the death of father-of-three
Richard Allen who took a deliberate overdose of heroin.

"In all the cases the reports say that the persons involved started on
cannabis at an early age and then went on to amphetamine, LSD and ecstasy
and then on to cocaine and heroin.

"There seems to be quite a lot of pressure to legalise cannabis. But those
people who start on cannabis tend to be encouraged to go on to other drugs
and end up on the fatal drugs.

"This should be a very strong warning to young people that cannabis is
dangerous and is not acceptable because it does lead people to go on to
other more serious and dangerous drugs."

The inquest into the death of 26-year-old father-of-three Mr Allen, of Brow
Hill, Heathfield, heard that he started experimenting with cannabis between
the ages of 12 and 14.

Between 16 and 20 he was experimenting with amphetamines and by the age of
22 he was spending UKP200 a week on cocaine.

He then moved on to crack cocaine and heroin spending around UKP30 a day.

His father, also called Richard Allen, said his son told him he had been
abused by a man.

Mr Allen Snr found his son unconscious in his bedroom but attempts by
paramedics to revive him failed.

He said after the inquest that his son's abuser, who served a term in jail,
was still living locally.

He said: "My son was a drug addict who was sexually abused by this man. From
that time his life took the wrong direction. He got into a mess and could
not get out of it."

He added: "There is a lot of work being done to tackle drugs. But there are
not enough finances available to cope with the problem properly. I'm afraid
it's something we have to live with. The police are responding to it, but
they can't always cope."

Mum Jacqueline Allen found messages written by her son to his family on two
mirrors in the room. A note making clear his intention to take his own life
was also found.

WPC Rachel Kingston told the inquest of an encounter with Mr Allen on New
Year's Eve.

He appeared to be upset and claimed to have had a row with his girlfriend.

"He told me what a horrible person he was and that all he had ever done was
hurt people," said WPC Kingston.

Mr Allen also told her: "I don't want to be here any more. I should be
dead."

Coroner's officer Rick Parsons said a post-mortem examination revealed the
cause of death to be a heroin overdose.

Mr Turner recorded a verdict of suicide.